Hamilton Meeting Will Help Prepare Your Home for Forest Fires

The homes affected by last year's Roaring Lion forest fire will be some of the examples used at a fire prevention meeting Wednesday night, June 21, at Hamilton High School's Performing Arts Center.

The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation will present retired fire scientist Jack Cohen, who has valuable information about wildfire behavior in the "Wildland Urban Interface."

The 7 p.m. presentation is free to the public. Cohen will provide tips on how to prepare your home for a possible wildfire. Some of the "defensible space" suggestions are easy - others require a little more preparation.

Jordan Koppen of the DNRC said that one of the homes lost at Roaring Lion was actually outside the fire perimeter. He mentioned the danger of flying embers and the wind created by the fire itself.

If you can't make it to the meeting, contact any fire department, the Bitterroot National Forest or the DNRC for advice. Check the publications available at the DNRC website.